Free France Campaign

[ColonelY]

In principle, yes for the Me 262 Schwalbe, it is planned.

But, still in principle, no V1 nor V2...

(It's the British jet that won't be shown up. )

[terminator]

Jagdtigers in Nordwind ?

In 1945, the Schwere Jägerabteilung 653 commanded by Major Fromme was engaged as part of Operation NORDWIND. Its operational area of action is in the North of Alsace.
Two Jagdtigers of the 3.Kie of 653 cross the border at Medelsheim on 30 December 44 to take part in Operation NORDWIND.

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[terminator]

S.Pz.Jag.Abt.653 will fight during Operation Nordwind with only 2 Jagdtiger in support of 17° SS-Pz.Gren.Div. then with a Kie. with the 10° SS-Pz.Div. Jag.Kp.614 in December 1944, it is in reserve in the forest of Haguenau in March 1945 and will disappear in the multiple clashes in Ulm, Munich, Salzburg and finally Strengberg.

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[bru888]

(It's the British jet that won't be shown up. )

But I am thinking about it for Amherst Drop. A final duel in the air to facilitate the parachute operation with a couple of Glocester Meteors facing off against a few Me262 Schwalbes. (Which, occurring in April 1945 in the Netherlands, is much more plausible than over Strasbourg in 1944.)

[bru888]

Jagdtigers in Nordwind ?

As you were typing that, I was in the act of adding at least one Jagdtiger:

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Those before/after photos of battle scenes and how they look today is both interesting and scary.

[ColonelY]

(It's the British jet that won't be shown up. )

But I am thinking about it for Amherst Drop. A final duel in the air to facilitate the parachute operation with a couple of Glocester Meteors facing off against a few Me262 Schwalbes. (Which, occurring in April 1945 in the Netherlands, is much more plausible than over Strasbourg in 1944.)

Awesome!

I would vote in favor!

[ColonelY]

According to these info, Jagdtigers seem to have gone at least together with some of the SS divisions, namely the 10th SS Panzer and (perhaps for later as well) the 17th SS PzG Division, but not (of course) for the 6th SS Mtn ('cause, for mountains, precisely, obviously...)

So, some of the very best means of warfare for the SS divisions...


Have you used the SS flag as well already?

[ColonelY]

About potential German V-1:

I know ( ) we've said that "in principle" no V-1, but I've found out something new, something that changes the situation.

In doing some basic testing, I discovered that these repurposed devices (of the Japanese Ohka model, designed to sink ships) actually have a use against land targets as well: they reduce entrenchment!

We knew that they don't do much damage (or perhaps even any damage at all ) to land units, but now they have a use, at least!

Now, let's see... hmmm... so, they need to go against entrenched land units (to have at least "some" of an effect other than visual and sound, which is already quite nice)... thus it has to be more like a defensive battle. Thus the Liberation of Strasbourg won't fit, but the Operation Nordwind will!

Now, they could be used/implemented relatively easily in Operation Nordwind, targetting the center of Strasbourg: this will add to the immersion (an awesome event may pops-up as well), add sound and visual effects, but also spice things up, while still having a small impact if the Leclerc guys had quietly entrenched into the city!


Easily? Yeah, take this little example: ( which also proves what I said about entrenchment )

Here, you'll find the 3 files that were Inside my folder "V-1 Raid" (I haven't understood why this time the folder itself hasn't been directly uploaded at least it's a free online tool and it works, so, well... anyway, these 3 files, or even 2 as the preview isn't required, put in a folder named "V-1 Raid" will do the trick: (Download the files, put them in a folder, of course, then open OoB and) Load the scenario, launch it, do nothing (except maybe a bit of scouting using the planes at disposal) and see what happens... Enjoy! I've solved the fuel issue for them, so that they may travel a little while without any issue and the "bombing" effect is fired each turn, potentially (if they are above their "zone of targets", that is)... https://easyupload.io/m/2v6e74
(No password, link valid one week)

Basically, to implement this in a scenario like Operation Norwind, it may just be about spawning several waves of V-1 (perhaps even starting randomly from few different locations), named "V-1 Flying Bombs" or something!

[ColonelY]

I think it's a rather easy solution:

1. One single trigger at "infinite frequence" to keep all these flying bombs always at full-fuel => they can only be destroyed if we destroy them on their way towards their targets (dogfighters & AAs) or when they're activated because of having reached their targets!
(Without this, it's like they start directly "out-of-fuel", so turn 1 10 strenght pts, turn 2 only 7, t3 back to 4, t4 only 2 str pts left, t5 ... nothing more flying! )
With this, they can travel basically as long as they had to... so, for a big map, it's ideal: we can directly deploy many of them (if not all of them), from different sectors (so it will be felt like coming from different directions), and from different distances (to give the feeling of several different waves)...

2. One single AI setup for them: "Move to Hex" while "Ignoring the enemy".

3. One trigger to "activate" these bombs, set at "infinite frequence" (otherwise, after having been used the very first time, it becomes useless): once near this hex at 2 hexes away (so a "zone of targets" is defined... how they'll get into there is somehow random if they are many)... They enter this sector. Start of our next turn, the "Remove unit" effect, using the "Kill" to activate them and make them go down before blowing up. Quite cinematic, actually!
(2 hexes away seems a good option... for more concentrated strikes, more accurate ones)

4. Possibility to duplicate this trigger at the 3rd point to have more "zones of targets"...
Anyway, please do NOT leave Notre Dame Cathedral within any of these target areas!

5. Even possibility to add a secondary objective about how many of these Flying Bombs have been destroyed in the airs (checking the "Kill" as well, BUT by the "Kill&Casualties")...
(I've made the test as well, it works: A trigger for this, under "Any Event" or "Combat Event". Single condition: "Kill&Casualties", with "Killer Definition" => our alliance (color), "Target Definition" => their alliance (color), "Amount" = "well, as many as one wishes (but not too much either, it wouldn't be wise)", "Unit Definition" => "Unit Type" "MXY7 Ohka", "Link to objective" => yes, indeed, to have the counter... And, like this, those that are activated, so that kill themselves, even over some of our land troops are NOT taken into account by this counter, as it should. So, it works! )

[ColonelY]

The only downside is that the Leclerc guys (2e DB, that is) would have to start entrenched otherwise this consequence will not be visible anyway. Or else, the first waves of V-1 should not fall at the very beginning of the scenario, the time to let them entrench themselves...


At least those flying bombs can't be a game changer, in terms of the potential unbalance of the scenario's land battle, as I don't expect an entrenchment penalty to be that dramatic overall.

[ColonelY]

On your printscreen, the Flugabwehr unit (21st Panzer) has more XP than their Jagdtiger... Probably all the same XP... per division, at least, that is!

That gives me another idea: For once, and to increase the challenge, we can increase the XP of the enemy divisions. For this assault, we know that the Germans have sent some of their elite units... some divisions to be put from the start not at 8 but at 9 or even 10 XP pts ? Like all SS divisions and paratroopers too?

[ColonelY]

As an illustration for the event that would illustrate the appearance of the first V-1s (as soon as one of them becomes visible, and potentially with the enablement of the corresponding secondary objective), here are some candidates to choose from:
https://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=htt ... egUIARCsAQ
https://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=htt ... B0AAAAAEAM (with water? Well, we've the Rhine not very far!; and an unidentified plane... )
https://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=htt ... B0AAAAAEAM

[terminator]

The 3rd Company of the 653rd Heavy Panzerjäger Battalion (Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653) was assigned to the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen where it would fight in Operation Nordwind in January.

In 1945, the Schwere Jägerabteilung 653 commanded by Major Fromme was engaged as part of Operation NORDWIND. Its operational area of action is in the North of Alsace. Two Jagdtigers of the 3.Kie of 653 cross the border at Medelsheim on 30 December 44 to take part in Operation NORDWIND. Their mission is to strengthen the 17 SS Pz gren «Götz von Berlichingen» in this sector and which itself is subordinate to the XIII SS ARMEE KORPS. In the aftermath, they arrive at Rimling, 4 other Jagdtigers of the 1.Kie arrive to reinforce them on January 4 45.They landed at Bruchmühlbach near Zweibrücken, two of them attack the American forces at Rimling near Bitche. The commanders are Fw Schlabs and Uffz Jaskiela.

[ColonelY]

If one chooses to have the German V-1s appear, I think that would be most appropriate in the (defensive) 20OperationNordwind scenario. So I'd say it's there (and only there) or never. But the decision is yours.

[ColonelY]

French Indochina:

It's trully excellent, by the way, to have had a first glimpse of the Franco-Thai war via the awesome scenario La Combattante, which notably illustrated the naval battle of Koh Chang very well... It was shortly after this French victory that the Japanese offered their "mediation".

Shortly afterwards, the Japanese obtained, by pressure, new advantages, so that in the end the French Indochina "of Pétain" (head of the French government, installed in the city of Vichy, once the first part of the war was lost for France) more or less collaborated with the Japanese as well!

But Pétain, hero of the first world war, had his own ideas and intended to strengthen the position he acquired. Thus, for example, this huge poster with the following words: "ONLY ONE LEADER - PÉTAIN; ONLY ONE DUTY - OBEY; ONLY ONE MOTTO - SERVE"
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... uselang=fr
EDIT: Oh, and this building is the Notre-Dame Cathedral (or rather, in French, Cathédrale Notre-Dame) of Saïgon, of course not to be confused with the Notre-Dame Cathedral (or rather again, in French, Cathédrale Notre-Dame) of Strasbourg where the Free French flag must fly freely in the wind, visible far and wide!

Another example, a quick look at the 7th photograph shown here , from probably one of the native barracks (auxiliary troops in support of the French soldiers):
http://archives.ecpad.fr/lindochine-dan ... 1885-1956/

[ColonelY]

Oh and, by the way, it reminds me of a very little detail... even if you can find both versions in French, it's always better to write (for a Cathedral for example) "Notre-Dame" instead of "Notre Dame".

It's all good for the scenarios 17OperationDragoon and 18LiberationOfParis. It will also be good for the next two scenarios...

But the other version is found (only) ONCE in a campaign event called "Liberator"... it's really a very little detail, but it would be better with a small "-" in the middle.

[bru888]

The 3rd Company of the 653rd Heavy Panzerjäger Battalion (Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 653) was assigned to the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen where it would fight in Operation Nordwind in January.

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Screenshot B.jpg (212.85 KiB) Viewed 1691 times

[bru888]

Have you used the SS flag as well already?

It's a good thing you mentioned that.

[bru888]

On your printscreen, the Flugabwehr unit (21st Panzer) has more XP than their Jagdtiger... Probably all the same XP... per division, at least, that is!

That gives me another idea: For once, and to increase the challenge, we can increase the XP of the enemy divisions. For this assault, we know that the Germans have sent some of their elite units... some divisions to be put from the start not at 8 but at 9 or even 10 XP pts ? Like all SS divisions and paratroopers too?

That was adjusted during a review. In general, the Heer units are 8 XP but the SS units are 10 XP.

[bru888]

If one chooses to have the German V-1s appear, I think that would be most appropriate in the (defensive) 20OperationNordwind scenario. So I'd say it's there (and only there) or never. But the decision is yours.

The flying bombs made it in with a bunch of grunting and groaning on my part. I tested them; they work. However, they are in here only for flavor and immersion. They have no real effect on combat (they wouldn't anyway) and there is no objective concerning them. Believe me, the player will have his hands full without having to worry about shooting down harmless flying bombs.